A re-escalation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis saw German stocks underperformed, as these are seen are viewed as having comparatively higher exposure to Russia. The German DAX index closed provisionally 1.6 percent lower.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday to discuss a solution to the crisis in Ukraine, where violence between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukraine military has intensified, forcing many civilians in the east of the country to flee their homes.

Greek stocks tumbled up to 5 percent and bond yields spiked after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his election pledge to restructure Greece's debt was "irrevocable" in his inaugural speech late on Sunday.